If there’s anything that separates us from the lower animals, it’s the garbage truck. The garbage truck is a rolling testament to both our mechanical and bureaucratic skill; proof that no matter what the females of the species might think man would rather not live in his own filth. In Central Arkansas, we rely on Pulaski County Regional Solid Waste Management for trash pickup and recycling.  

Here’s how to sign up for trash and other city services, including gas to keep you warm, electricity to keep the lights on, telephone service to keep you connected and running water to help keep you from smelling like old cabbage and corn chips. The future, friends, is truly now:  

Power 

Little Rock and communities in Pulaski County: To turn on or transfer service, call Entergy at 1-800-368-3749 (1-800-ENTERGY) or go online at www.entergy-arkansas.com with name, street and mailing address, drivers license number and state of issue, Social Security number, date of birth, employer, daytime phone and directions to property. Deposits may be required; allow two working days for service to start. 

North Little Rock Electric Department: For service, go to 120 Main St. Deposit for residential customers is $100. Customer service number is 975-8888. 

Gas 

CenterPoint Energy serves the entire county. Call 1-800-992-7552 to have gas service started, or you may go online to www.centerpointenergy.com. Three days’ notice is needed for an appointment to set up service. A $75 deposit is required, but half may be paid up front with the rest billed on the first bill. A service initiation fee of $37 is also charged, for a total start-up cost of $112. 

Water and sewage 

Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood: Central Arkansas Water serves all three, and its website, www.cark.com, has all the information customers need. 

The best way to get new water hookups is to go to the Central Arkansas Water office’s New Service Section at 221 E. Capitol Ave. between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday (4:30 p.m. Friday). You may call 377-1202 between those hours, but you are likely to get a recording.    

A $35 deposit and various other fees may be charged. For service at a location where facilities are in place, contact customer service; an activation fee of $15 will be charged.  

Central Arkansas Water handles inquiries on wastewater bills, which are included on the water bill, at 372-5161.

For information on sewer permits and fees for new construction, go to www.lrwu.com or call the permits desk at 688-1420 or go to the office at 11 Clearwater Drive. In North Little Rock, for inquiries about new sewer hookups call North Little Rock Wastewater at 975-8920. 

Jacksonville: For residential service, call 982-6561 or go to 1900 Marshall Road. Deposit for same day service is $75 before 2 p.m. and $90 after 2 p.m. A service charge of $10 is charged before 2 p.m. or $25 after 2 p.m. Wastewater utility inquiries go to 982-0581.  

Maumelle: For service, call 851-3077 or go to 90 Lake Point Place. Deposit is $30 ($40 for sprinkler meter); service charge is $25.  

Solid waste 

The phone number of the Waste Management District is 340-8787. For information on trash pickup, yard waste disposal, curbside recycling and bulky item pickup call: 

Little Rock................................ 888-2208  

(for recycling bin.................... 565-0191

North Little Rock..................... 371-8345 

Jacksonville.............................. 982-6071 

Maumelle ................................. 851-2812 

Sherwood................................. 835-3288 

Telephone  

Prepare to spend some time talking to computerized voices and waiting on hold to start new land lines via ATT’s 1-800-464-7928 number. New line installation is $45, second lines are cheaper. Bundles that include wireless Internet service, cell service and other features are detailed on www.att.com; special offers may apply. Lower prices may be available online. 

Tire disposal 

Tires must be disposed of at special sites. They include: 

City of Little Rock Sanitation Landfill, 10803 Ironton Cutoff Road, 888-5806, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Up to four passenger tires per person, must be off the rim.   

Davis Rubber Co., 1600 E. 15th, 374-1473, 8 a.m.-noon, 12:30 p.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Up to four passenger tires free; additional passenger tires $1 each, truck tires $3 each. Varied fee for farm tires. 

Interstate Tire, 3111 E. Broadway, North Little Rock, 945-5591, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Up to four a day, $1 each after that.